Project Omanensis; The Holy Grail

A. Omanensis


A. Omanensis is reputedly the Holy Grail of Clownfish. Surf the internet and virtually no information exists on this fish, with the exception perhaps of a single decades-old photo. When you do find a photo or two it is usually photos of a brown Bicinctus variation misidentified as an Oman.

A. Omanensis


A. Omanensis is endemic to the Sultanate of Oman, which has a roughly north-south coastline of 1242 miles. The Sultanate shares its southern borders with Yemen and its northern with The United Arab Emirates. Its western border is shared with Saudi Arabia. Off it's north eastern coast, lies Oman's largest island - Masirah. The average sea surface temperature of the Oman is 78.80F - 82.76F.

While the general conformation and color of the Oman Anemonefish are consistent, there are numerous variations, both subtle and obvious, within the species' northern and southern population.

Here are several markers unique to the Oman Anemonefish/Clownfish.

a) Caudal fin light cream to white. Caudal fin is generally slightly truncated and strongly forked in adults 18 months and older. Females generally have a more strongly fork caudal fin, while males have a slightly forked caudal fin. Juveniles generally do not develop a forked tail until 16 months and older.

Juvenile Omanensis


Young adult male Omanensis


b) Body coloration is light to dark brown, light brownish brick red. An extremely rare color variation is bright brick red. The southern most polulation of Omanensis has a light diffused yellow coloration at the top half of the body just below the dorsal fin, face and under the lower jaw.

Bright brick red Omanensis


c) Pelvic and anal fins are generally black, however the anal fin may not always be entirely black. Black pelvic and anal fin coloration also applies to the extremely rare bright brick red variation.

d) It's not uncommon to see visibly blue hues on both head and body bars. Local divers call Omans "brown fish with narrow blue waist belt." While the head bar is generally pinched at the top, Omans in the southern most parts of the Omani coastal waters generally have wider unconstricted head bars, prompting several marine biologists to speculate the possibility of them having hybridized with the local Clarkii population. The middle bar of Omanensis is generally narrow, between one to four scales wide. A reasonable number of Omans have an incomplete middle bar, or are absent the middle bar.

Omanensis with blue stripes.




Southern most Omanensis with thick head bar




The number of Omanensis outside the Sultanate is said to be fewer than six all are accounted for. To date we know of no one within or outside the Sultanate that has bred this rarest of Clownfish. Perhaps in the very near future a suitable person(s) may be found to take on this task of captive breeding Omans, ultimately making them available to us and the rest of the world.

Host Anemone: Heteractis crispa, Entacmaea quadricolor

 

Thanks for the great write up on Omanensis clownfish - so how big do these get? How is their behavior - docile?

 

Thank you Matt, they do get pretty big the two females I have are a little over 4 inches, but I've seen bigger ones in the wild. Like most clownfish,
Oman's are territorial and can be quite aggressive.

 

So something like a Maroon clown (in my experience) then?

 

Very nice!

 

they look very similiar to the mcculloch's clown,

any similarity in price?

 

The McCullochi is said to be closer in looks to A. Melanopus except for obvious color differences.... they both have a single head band, but the McCulloch's head band is generally incomplete.

Omanensis generally has a constricted head band, but not as narrow or as incomplete as the Mccullochi and Omanensis has a narrow middle band absent in A. McCullochi.

Omanensis because of strict collection restrictions and stricter export restrictions commands a $5,500 price tag.... I am certain when CB ones become available in a year or two prices will be less prohibitive

 

Yes... somewhat cranky like a Maroon... they literally go at each other between dividers..

 

5,500 for a fish...... i cant imagine. especially if it looks very similar to one i can get for less than 30. haha. rare... ya... but unique in color not so much but still a very pretty rare fish that demands a very high price tag